~~o0o~~
"Sam!" Janet called out her friend.
Sam turned and smiled. "Hey Janet. What's up?"
"Can you give me a lift home? My car's in the shop."
"Yeah sure as long as you don't mind me ducking in to get some groceries on the way. The fridge is a tad bare."
Janet laughed. "Nah that's fine. How long 'till you're ready?"
Sam looked at her watch. "Just let me get changed and go see the Colonel and we'll get out of here."
"Oh right. So about an hour then?" Janet said with a sly grin.
"Janet! I'll be five minutes."
Sam walked down the corridor and turned into Jack's office stopping when she saw Captain Conner in there. "Excuse me Colonel. Got a minute?"
"Certainly Major. Come in. That'll be all Captain" Conner left and Sam walked into the room and shut the door behind her. She walked over to where Jack sat and gave him a quick kiss.
"I'm gonna get going now. What time will you be home?"
Jack chuckled. "Ah about midnight the rate I'm going."
"Well, I won't wait up then!" She turned to leave but he got up and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her back to him.
"Nah just kidding, I should be home about seven."
"Okay. What do you want to eat tonight?" This produced another throaty chuckle from him. "Well..." he began, before capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. "I meant dinner, smart ass." She said when they broke apart. She lowered her voice to a seductive purr. "That's dessert."
"Promises, promises," he retorted with a grin, before capturing her lips once more.
"Ah... Jack" Sam started as his lips trailed down her neck. "As much as I love where this is going, I thought we agreed not to do this on base."
"We did" he replied, but didn't stop his sensual torture.
"We did" Sam said more forcefully and placed her hands on his chest.
Jack stepped back reluctantly. "Yeah all right. You better get going then, I need to go and take a cold shower."
Sam laughed. "I'll see you tonight." She gave him another kiss and walked out.
Fifteen minutes later Sam and Janet were driving towards town. "So Sam. How are things going with you and Jack?" Janet asked.
Sam gave her a huge smile. "Pretty amazing. Although it is getting a bit hard to keep it a secret. I don't know how many times Daniel's nearly caught us when we've been off world.."
"I don't know why you just don't tell them. It would make things a lot easier."
"Yeah I know, but if we got found out then they could get into trouble for not reporting it."
"Hey, what about me? Don't you care if I get court martialed?" Janet asked with mock hurt.
Sam laughed. "That would be your own fault. You shouldn't have asked so many questions!"
"Come on, my best friend asks to go on the pill but refuses to tell me who she's seeing and I'm supposed to say nothing?"
"Yes. Anyway, you can just claim doctor-patient confidentiality." Sam sighed. "No it's just easier if we're discreet."
"Surely that can't be too hard."
That got a laugh from Sam. "You don't know Jack!"
Sam pulled up near the grocery store and both women got out. "Janet!" A man who was walking along the footpath called out.
"Greg, hi! Greg, this is my friend Sam, Sam this is Greg."
"Nice to meet you. If you'll excuse me I'll leave you two to talk and go get my groceries." Sam said.
Both Janet and Greg nodded and to her and she walked down the street, with a grin. She'd have to ask Janet about him later. The good doctor seemed most interested.
Sam walked into the grocery store and picked up a basket. Wandering through the isles, she didn't even notice the man walk into the store and point a pistol at the attendant. "Is there anyone else in here?" he rasped. The young male attendant nodded and pointed to Sam, who was walking down an isle away from them. "If you wanna live, then don't say a word" the robber hissed before hiding behind the counter.
A few minutes later, Sam walked up and placed the basket on the counter. "How's it going Ronnie?" she asked with a smile.
"Had better days Miss Carter" Ronnie replied nervously.
Sam heard the fear in his voice and looked up quickly, just as the offender jumped up and waved the gun in her face. "Don't move bitch!" He yelled.
Sam instinctively put her hands up in front of her and started calculating her options, which she quickly realised were non existent.
"Well what do we have here?" The robber said, his grin making Sam shudder. He looked her up and down, before walking around the counter, gun still trained on her. "You know I haven't done it with a blonde for a long time."
"That doesn't surprise me" Sam replied sarcastically. She quickly realised that was the wrong move as he backhanded her across the face.
"Don't get smart with me bitch! In case you forgot I'm the one with the gun." He looked at Ronnie. "Get around here" he barked. He grabbed some duct tape out of his pocket and threw it to Sam. "Tie him up now, and make sure it's good. If he escapes then I'll shoot you both."
Sam quickly bound Ronnie's wrists and ankles before standing back up.
The assailant stepped towards her and Sam backed up until she hit the wall. "Oh dear, nowhere to go now" he said as he pressed himself against her. Sam felt his erection against her thigh and fear suddenly struck her with full force. 'Oh god this can't be happening' she thought to herself. She looked around, desperately trying to formulate a plan. She saw Ronnie but realised he wouldn't be much good even if he could undo himself. The poor kid looked like he was about to faint.
"You know what I want, so why don't you make this easy and just give it to me?" he whispered, his free hand running up her side to her breast.
"Over my dead body!" Sam hissed through clenched teeth.
"That can be arranged" he replied maliciously, shoving the gun under her chin.
"Now undo your jeans" he whispered in her ear, his tongue flicking out to lick it.
Sam felt sick to her stomach and it took all of her willpower to stay standing. "No."
He slapped her across the face again. "Do it!" He yelled.
Sam looked him in the eye, her anger bubbling to the surface. "Do it yourself, you bastard."
"I'd call that consent, wouldn't you Ronnie?" he laughed before unbuttoning her jeans, the gun still pointed at her.
Janet walked into the shop, oblivious to what was going on inside. "Sam, what's taking so..." her voice caught in her throat as she saw the scene in front of her. The attacker looked up, momentarily distracted, and it was all Sam needed to overpower him. She grabbed his hand with the gun and pointed it toward the ceiling, kneeing him in the groin at the same time. The guy doubled over in pain and Sam pried the gun from his hand and pointed it at his head.
"You better stay still, 'cause I'd just as soon kill you!" she hissed. "Janet, call the police!" she barked, trying to do her jeans up while still pointing the gun at him.
#########
Half an hour later, Sam had just finished giving her statement to the police. Her attacker had already been taken away. "Are you sure it happened like you said? You seem awfully calm about this." The young officer said, not quite believing her.
Sam stepped up to him until her face was inches from his, her anger flaring. "You listen to me. I just told you what happened, if you don't believe me that's your problem. I'm sorry if I don't break down and cry for you but I'm a soldier, I'm kinda used to having a gun pointed at me." She turned around and started walking out the door.
"Wait ma'am..." he started but Janet grabbed his arm.
"Unless you want her to kick your ass as well, I'd let her go. She's probably in shock. You have her statement and you have her address. I'm going to take her home now." Not waiting for a reply, Janet followed Sam out the door.
Janet and Sam walked into Sam's apartment. Sam went straight into the kitchen and grabbed Jack's bottle of whiskey. She hated the stuff but a glass of wine just wouldn't be good enough right now. "Do you want a drink?" She asked Janet, who was following her every move.
"No thanks. What I do want is for you to sit down and talk to me. Come on Sam, you just went through a very traumatic experience. You should talk about it." Janet had been trying to get Sam to talk since they left the grocery store.
"Janet, I said I'm fine! Now I'm going to have a bath." She grabbed the glass of whiskey, not even bothering to put ice in it, and headed for her bedroom.
Janet sighed and walked back into the living room. She heard the water running and picked up the phone. "Yes this is Doctor Frasier. Put me through to Colonel O'Neill please... thankyou... Jack, this is Janet... it's Sam, she was attacked... no she's not hurt but I think you should come home... yeah, I'll wait 'til you get here... okay bye."
Twenty minutes later, Jack came rushing through the front door, looking very worried. "Janet, where is she?"
"She's in the bath."
"Is she all right?"
"She says she is but... she was almost raped Jack. It has to have affected her. She won't talk to me though."
"Oh god... I'll go and talk to her. You wanna stick around for a while? I might need your help."
Janet nodded and Jack made his way into the bathroom.
"What are you doing home so early?" Sam asked when she heard him knock softly on the open door.
"Janet rang me and told me what happened. Are you okay?" He walked over and crouched next to the tub.
"As I've told Janet a million times, I'm fine!" She snapped. She grabbed the glass of whiskey and took a large sip.
"Sam talk to me. Come on, you're drinking whiskey. You never touch the stuff."
"Oh so it's a crime now?" She sat up and hugged her knees.
Jack grabbed her chin and turned her head to look at him. "Come on baby, don't shut me out. I wanna help you."
Sam sighed and a single tear ran down her cheek. "I'm okay Jack, really. I just can't get it out of my head."
"You wanna tell me about it?" His voice was soft and undemanding.
Sam nodded and told him what had happened. After she finished, she took a shuddering breath and closed her eyes. Jack was rubbing a soothing hand up and down her back.
After a moment she opened her eyes and looked at him. "You remember the other night, after we made love, and I told you I was yours mind, body and soul?" Jack nodded but said nothing, letting her continue. "That was all I could think of when he was attacking me. I felt like if I let him... rape me then I would be betraying you. That you'd hate me. I'd rather die than let someone do that to me." She started sobbing uncontrollably and Jack gathered her into his arms.
"God Sam, I would never hate you. None of this was your fault okay?"
"I'm a soldier! I should have been able to handle it!"
"Listen to me. You weren't in a combat situation, you had no weapons... christ Sam you were in a grocery store! Besides, you did handle it. You stopped him. He can't hurt anyone now."
Sam buried her head in Jack's chest. "I was so scared Jack."
"I know. It's all right, you're safe now." Jack just held her until her sobs subsided.
When she stopped crying, she pulled back and looked at him. "Sorry" she said quietly, wiping her eyes.
Jack put his hands on either side of her head, making her look at him. "Don't ever be sorry for showing me your emotions Sammy. That's what being in love's all about." He kissed her on the forehead before getting up. "Come on, let's get you out of this tub hey?" He helped her out before wrapping her in a towel and drying her off. "Go and get dressed." Sam nodded and walked in the direction he pointed her in.
Jack walked out into the living room where Janet was waiting. "Thanks for staying Janet. I think we're going to be okay now." He wiped a hand across his face and sat down on the couch, clearly deflated.
"She talked to you about it?"
"Yeah. She's pretty upset but we'll get through it."
"How about you. Are you all right?"
"I'm okay. I just feel so helpless. I'm not really sure how to help her."
Janet rose from the chair. "Just be there for her. That's all you can do." She walked to the front door. "Ring me if you need me."
"Thanks, Janet." He waved as she walked out the door.
A few minutes later, Sam walked into the living room, dressed in an oversized Cubs shirt she had stolen from Jack. She plonked herself down beside him and cuddled up to him. Jack put a protective arm around her and they just sat there for a few minutes.
"Didn't you want to watch that hockey game tonight?" Sam asked, not lifting her head from his chest.
"Doesn't matter now" he replied, tightening his arm around her.
"Put it on Jack. I could use the distraction." Jack complied, grabbing the remote and turning the TV on.
Neither of them were really watching the game, both too caught up in there own thoughts. At half time Jack looked down at Sam and saw that she had fallen asleep. He smiled softly before getting up and carefully picking her up. Sam's arms instinctively went around his neck, but she didn't wake up. Jack carried her to the bedroom and gently put her down before placing the covers over her. He gently stroked her cheek before kissing her on the forehead. "I love you" he said quietly before walking back out to finish watching the game.
Jack must have fallen asleep on the sofa. He woke with a start, hearing Sam screaming. "Jack! Jack!" He got up and raced into the bedroom.
"It's okay, I'm here" he soothed as he pulled her against him. He rocked her gently until she calmed down. "You okay?" He asked quietly as he stroked her hair. He felt her nod against his chest.
"Just a bad dream. I guess I kinda panicked when I woke up and you weren't here."
"I'm here Sam. I'm not going anywhere." He kissed the top of her head. "I want to help you. Just tell me what I can do."
"Just hold me Jack" she said quietly.
Jack got up and undressed quickly, before slipping into bed beside her. He pulled her tightly against him, one hand holding hers against his chest while the other traced patterns up and down her back. "You can sleep now Sammy. I'm here and I won't let anyone hurt you."
"I know," she replied and believed it. As long as she stayed in Jack's arms she knew she'd be safe. This time she drifted off to sleep and didn't dream.